The European FinTech Encyclopedia

Knowledge

Clear explanations of fintech terms, regulation, companies and official sources. Built to help users search, learn and verify.

FinTech Fundamentals

What is Fintech

FinTech means financial technology: the use of software, data and digital infrastructure to deliver, improve or automate financial services.

Banking

What is Open Banking

Open Banking is a secure way for customers to permit regulated third parties to access bank-account data or initiate payments through APIs.

Payments

What is PSD2

PSD2 is the EU’s revised Payment Services Directive, designed to make electronic payments safer, improve consumer protection and open parts of banking to regulated third-party providers.

Payments

What is PSD3

PSD3 is the next EU Payment Services Directive proposal, intended to update PSD2 and strengthen payment-sector supervision, fraud prevention and consumer protection.

Payments

What is SEPA

SEPA is the Single Euro Payments Area, designed to make euro payments across participating European countries work in a standardised way.

Payments

What is IBAN

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, a standardised account identifier used to route payments correctly.

Payments

What is SWIFT

SWIFT is a global financial messaging network used by banks and financial institutions to exchange payment and securities messages.

Banking

What is an EMI

An Electronic Money Institution, or EMI, is a regulated firm authorised to issue electronic money and provide certain payment services.

Regulation

AML vs KYC

AML vs KYC compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Digital Assets

Best Crypto Exchanges in Europe

Best Crypto Exchanges in Europe is a practical guide to comparing providers in Europe based on regulation, use case, transparency, fees, product fit and official-source verification.

Banking

Best Digital Banks in Europe

Best Digital Banks in Europe is a practical guide to comparing providers in Europe based on regulation, use case, transparency, fees, product fit and official-source verification.

Banking

Best Open Banking Providers

Best Open Banking Providers is a practical guide to comparing providers in Europe based on regulation, use case, transparency, fees, product fit and official-source verification.

Payments

Best Payment Providers in Europe

Best Payment Providers in Europe is a practical guide to comparing providers in Europe based on regulation, use case, transparency, fees, product fit and official-source verification.

Regulation

Best Regtech Companies

Best Regtech Companies is a practical guide to comparing providers in Europe based on regulation, use case, transparency, fees, product fit and official-source verification.

Digital Assets

Crypto Regulation in Belgium

Crypto Regulation in Belgium explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Digital Assets

Crypto Regulation in France

Crypto Regulation in France explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Digital Assets

Crypto Regulation in Germany

Crypto Regulation in Germany explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Digital Assets

Crypto Regulation in Spain

Crypto Regulation in Spain explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Digital Assets

Crypto Regulation in the Netherlands

Crypto Regulation in the Netherlands explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Digital Assets

Custodial Wallet vs Non Custodial Wallet

Custodial Wallet vs Non Custodial Wallet compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Regulation

Digital Asset Regulation in Europe

Digital Asset Regulation in Europe explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Banking

EMI vs Bank

EMI vs Bank compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

FinTech Fundamentals

Financial Innovation in Europe

Financial Innovation in Europe is an important concept in fintech fundamentals that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

Fintech Regulation in Europe

Fintech Regulation in Europe explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

FinTech Fundamentals

History of Fintech

History of Fintech is an important concept in fintech fundamentals that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

Hot Wallet vs Cold Wallet

Hot Wallet vs Cold Wallet compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Digital Assets

How to Check MiCA Compliance

How to Check MiCA Compliance explains a practical step-by-step method for checking information before choosing or trusting a fintech provider.

Digital Assets

How to Choose a Regulated Crypto Exchange

How to Choose a Regulated Crypto Exchange explains a practical step-by-step method for checking information before choosing or trusting a fintech provider.

Payments

How to Compare Payment Providers

How to Compare Payment Providers explains a practical step-by-step method for checking information before choosing or trusting a fintech provider.

FinTech Fundamentals

How to Read an Official Register

How to Read an Official Register explains a practical step-by-step method for checking information before choosing or trusting a fintech provider.

FinTech Fundamentals

How to Verify a Fintech Company

How to Verify a Fintech Company explains a practical step-by-step method for checking information before choosing or trusting a fintech provider.

Digital Assets

MiCA vs Mifid

MiCA vs Mifid compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Banking

Open Banking vs Open Finance

Open Banking vs Open Finance compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

FinTech Fundamentals

Open Finance in Europe

Open Finance in Europe is an important concept in fintech fundamentals that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

Payment Gateway vs Payment Processor

Payment Gateway vs Payment Processor compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Payments

Payment Regulation in Europe

Payment Regulation in Europe explains the regulatory context that shapes how financial technology can be offered, supervised and trusted in Europe.

Payments

PSD2 vs PSD3

PSD2 vs PSD3 compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Regulation

Regtech vs Fintech

Regtech vs Fintech compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Digital Assets

Stablecoin vs CBDC

Stablecoin vs CBDC compares two related fintech concepts that are often confused but serve different roles in the financial ecosystem.

Digital Assets

What Are Real World Assets

Real World Assets is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Investing

What is a Broker

a Broker is an important concept in investing that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is a CASP

A CASP is a Crypto-Asset Service Provider under MiCA, such as a firm providing crypto custody, trading, exchange or transfer services.

Digital Assets

What is a CBDC

A CBDC is central bank digital currency: digital money issued by a central bank rather than a commercial bank or private company.

Digital Assets

What is a Crypto Exchange

a Crypto Exchange is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is a Digital Wallet

a Digital Wallet is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is a Hardware Wallet

a Hardware Wallet is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is a National Competent Authority

a National Competent Authority is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is a Payment Gateway

a Payment Gateway is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is a Payment Institution

A Payment Institution is a regulated firm authorised to provide payment services without necessarily being a bank or EMI.

Digital Assets

What is a Stablecoin

a Stablecoin is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is a Whitepaper Under MiCA

a Whitepaper Under MiCA is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is AFM

AFM is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is AI in Finance

AI in Finance is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is Algorithmic Trading

Algorithmic Trading is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is AMF

AMF is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is AML

AML means anti-money laundering: rules and controls designed to prevent criminals from using the financial system to hide illicit funds.

Payments

What is an Acquirer

an Acquirer is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is an ART

an ART is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is an EMT

an EMT is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Investing

What is an ETF

an ETF is an important concept in investing that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is Apple Pay

Apple Pay is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is BaFin

BaFin is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Banking

What is Banking as a Service

Banking as a Service, or BaaS, lets licensed financial institutions provide regulated banking capabilities through APIs to other companies.

Digital Assets

What is Bitcoin

Bitcoin is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Blockchain Analytics

Blockchain Analytics is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Cold Storage

Cold Storage is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is Contactless Payment

Contactless Payment is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Investing

What is Copy Trading

Copy Trading is an important concept in investing that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is Credit Scoring

Credit Scoring is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Crypto Custody

Crypto Custody is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is CSSF

CSSF is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Customer Due Diligence

Customer Due Diligence is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is DeFi

DeFi is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Digital Identity

Digital Identity is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is DORA

DORA is the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act, focused on ICT risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing and third-party technology risk in finance.

Regulation

What is EBA

EBA is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is ECB

ECB is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is eIDAS

eIDAS is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Banking

What is Embedded Finance

Embedded finance means financial services integrated directly into non-financial products, platforms or customer journeys.

Regulation

What is ESMA

ESMA is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Ethereum

Ethereum is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is EU Passporting

EU Passporting is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is Explainable AI

Explainable AI is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Investing

What is Fractional Investing

Fractional Investing is an important concept in investing that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Fraud Detection

Fraud Detection is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is FSMA

FSMA is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is GDPR in Financial Services

GDPR in Financial Services is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is Google Pay

Google Pay is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is Instant Payments

Instant Payments is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is KYC

KYC means Know Your Customer: the process of identifying and verifying a customer before or during a financial relationship.

Digital Assets

What is MiCA

MiCA is the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, a framework for crypto-asset issuers, service providers and certain stablecoin-like tokens in the European Union.

AI in Finance

What is Model Risk Management

Model Risk Management is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Operational Resilience

Operational Resilience is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Proof of Reserves

Proof of Reserves is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Regtech

Regtech is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is Robo Advice

Robo Advice is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

AI in Finance

What is Robo Investing

Robo Investing is an important concept in ai in finance that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Sanctions Screening

Sanctions Screening is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Self Custody

Self Custody is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Smart Contract

Smart Contract is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

FinTech Fundamentals

What is Strong Customer Authentication

Strong Customer Authentication is an important concept in fintech fundamentals that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Suptech

Suptech is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is the Digital Euro

The digital euro is a proposed central-bank digital form of cash for the euro area, developed by the European Central Bank.

Digital Assets

What is the Travel Rule

the Travel Rule is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Digital Assets

What is Tokenization

Tokenization is an important concept in digital assets that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Payments

What is Tokenization in Payments

Tokenization in Payments is an important concept in payments that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Regulation

What is Transaction Monitoring

Transaction Monitoring is an important concept in regulation that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.

Investing

What is Wealthtech

Wealthtech is an important concept in investing that helps explain how modern financial technology products are built, regulated or used.